World Breastfeeding Week August 1 to 7 2021

World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration held every year from August 1 to 7 in over 120 countries. World Health Organisation states breastfeeding as one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. This year, the theme for breastfeeding week is 'Protect Breastfeeding’ and is celebrated to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

The University of Pretoria’s Dietetic students chose to breastfeed as their main intervention e.g. they go through the 6 steps of program planning and then plan an intervention to address the main problem. They were also given Breastfeeding Week as the Health Education day together with World Environmental day. This they then plan inter-disciplinary at Daspoort.

What Is World Breastfeeding Week?

Every year the world marks Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to August 7. It is celebrated to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

Breastfeeding is also known as nursing. It is the best way to provide young infants with the essential nutrients required for growth and development. Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants as it is safe, clean, and acts as the babies' first vaccine, protecting them against many common childhood illnesses. Additionally, breastmilk is extremely nutritious and healthy for the baby and can help the baby develop a healthy weight.

In relation to the theme 'Protect Breastfeeding’, efforts to prioritize breastfeeding-friendly environments for mothers and babies included; ensuring health care workers have the resources and information they need to effectively support mothers to breastfeed, including through global efforts such as the baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, and guidelines on breastfeeding counselling.

Ensuring employers allow women the time and space they need to breastfeed; including paid parental leave with longer maternity leave; safe places for breastfeeding in the workplace; access to affordable and good-quality childcare; and universal child benefits and adequate wages.

World Breastfeeding Week dates back to 1979 when WHO started a battle against baby foods being promoted in the market, and brands interfering in breastfeeding in hospitals. Globally, it was noticed that powdered milk formula had a negative impact on the health of children and something needed to be done. In 1990, agencies and lawmakers got inspired by the breastfeeding movement and signed Innocenti Declaration. Since 2016, World Breastfeeding Week is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2018, a World Health Assembly resolution endorsed World Breastfeeding Week as an important breastfeeding promotion strategy.